Kanto Tectonic Basin

...Based on the characteristic of high elevation distribution in the coastal areas and low elevation in the center of the plain, the direction of the rivers mentioned above, and the thickness of the Tertiary layers in the center of the plain, it is interpreted that the basin-forming movement with the center of subsidence near Kurihashi and the northern part of Tokyo Bay has continued since the end of the Tertiary Period through the Pleistocene and continues to the present day. Therefore, the Kanto Plain is sometimes called the Kanto Tectonic Basin geologically. Currently, transportation lines have developed radially from Tokyo, and there appear to be no topographical obstacles, but the low marshes in the lower reaches of the Arakawa and Edogawa Rivers restricted transportation in the past. ...

*Some of the terminology used in reference to the Kanto Tectonic Basin is listed below.

Source | Heibonsha World Encyclopedia 2nd Edition | Information

…臨海部に高く平野の中央部に低い高度分布の特色や上述の河川の方向，さらに第三紀層の層厚が平野中心部に厚いことなどから，栗橋付近および東京湾北部に沈降の中心をもつ造盆地運動が，第三紀末以降洪積世を通じて継続し現在にまで及んでいると解釈されている。したがって関東平野を地質学的に関東構造盆地ということがある。　現在東京を中心に交通線が放射状に発達し，地形の障害はないように見えるが，荒川，江戸川下流部の低湿地は古くは交通を制約していた。…

※「関東構造盆地」について言及している用語解説の一部を掲載しています。

出典｜株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典 第２版について | 情報